The Program
Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of research and practice, dealing with problems relating to language and communication in society, the media, organizations, business, and politics. Students in this M.A. program are given the tools to identify problems and work on solving them by applying linguistic theories and employing empirical and experimental methods.
The program aims at developing knowledge of the theories and methods used in intercultural communication, second language acquisition, language processing, and translation studies. Course topics include interpersonal communication, regional and social variation in language behaviour, (im)politeness across cultures, pragmatic competence, writing in a second language, and cognitive processes in translating.
Students are given an overview of the field of Applied Linguistics and may choose to specialize in a wide range of subdisciplines. The core modules are intercultural communication, second language acquisition, language processing, and translation studies. Teaching and research supervision are also offered in pragmatics, discourse analysis, genre analysis, sociolinguistics, dialectology, cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, and metalexicography.
For Prospective Students
Find out more about entry requirements & admission here
FAQ
The application period varies from year to year. The current application period for the next intake of winter semester 2026/2027 is from March to September 15, 2026. Please check this website regularly for the updated admission period: www.philfak.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/studienangebot/application-admission#application-deadlines.
We only issue admission for winter semester.
Applicants are not necessarily required to provide a certificate of English language skills. If your previous study program was taught entirely in English, please note this in your application. Applicants should have the following:
- 18 credit points in English language courses; or
- a C1 level certificate from a standardized English proficiency test.
Under special circumstances, applicants with a combination of the above qualifications may also be considered for the program. If you are uncertain whether you fulfil the standard requirements, be sure to submit all relevant additional qualifications and test results at the time of applying (if there is not enough space in the online application portal, these documents can also be sent to bael@uni-bonn.de during the official application period only).
As a measure of reference, applicants should have an English proficiency level equivalent to a score of at least 100 points on the TOEFL iBT exam or a 7.0 on the IELTS exam, with at least 6.0 in each of the scores.
German language proficiency is one of the essential requirements for prospective students. The university accepts B1 level German certificates, including but not limited to:
- Goethe Certificate B1 or
- telc Certificate B1
- ÖSD B1
Please note that the certificate must comply to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We do not accept DuoLingo certificates.
If you cannot provide the required certificate at the time of application or are still enrolled in a German language course at the time of applying, please state this in your application. If you are accepted to the program, however, you will still be required to provide proof of your German language skills at the time of registration here at the university.
Our program does not have a set numerus clausus (NC); however, if the number of qualified applicants in a given year exceeds program capacity, the most qualified applicants will be given priority in the application process (through a university process called the Orts-NC).
As stated in the entry requirements and admission section on our website, applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong interest in linguistics, with outstanding marks in relevant courses on their transcript. If linguistics was not the main focus of your studies, be sure to highlight any linguistics courses listed on your transcript when applying. At least 36 LP (Leistungspunkte/credit points) with immediate relevance to the topics of Applied Linguistics, these include 18 LP in practical English language courses (If you can provide a language competency certificate, these credit points are not necessary). Practical language courses and applied courses that prepare students for work as a teacher or translator do not count as strictly topic related courses in the core areas of linguistics. Please be aware that we cannot admit applicants to this course of studies who already have a degree equivalent to an M.A. in the field of applied linguistics.
Please note that we cannot evaluate your transcripts or give you any specific information on your application documents before the end of the application phase. This can only be done by the admissions team after the application period has been closed: applicants will be informed as to the status of their application in the summer months.
The university of Bonn offers a wide range of financial support in form of scholarships or subsidies. Please visit our university website for more information on scholarship possibilities: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/consultation-and-service/financing-and-support.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) also grants scholarships to Master’s students. Please visit their website for more information about the requirements and selection process.
There are several channels, through which students can find accommodation. The Studierendenwerk Bonn (www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/accommodation) operates residential units for which German and foreign students enrolled at the University of Bonn are eligible for accommodation. You can register for the dorm online. However, please note that the demand for accommodation is greatest at the start of every semester and the waiting time can take several months before you get a room. We recommend that you start as early as possible.
Besides dormitory, there are plenty of private housing possibilities. Please have a look at the Universities Website about living in Bonn.
For Current Students
Here you can find a wide range of resources for B.A. and M.A. students offered by BAEL or external institutions
FAQ
If registration for a module is not possible during the registration phase, it means that the module is not offered in that semester.
To check whether a module is offered in the winter or summer semester, please consult the module catalogue. Find the module you are interested in and look for the section labelled Turnus.
You can also check which modules are offered in a given semester through the Vorlesungsverzeichnis on Basis. Please remember to select the correct semester before clicking on your major and modules.
All important dates for module registration, term paper registration, and exam registration can be found in the Philosophy Faculty’s semester calendar:
https://www.philfak.uni-bonn.de/de/studium/pruefungsamt/termine-und-fristen
Yes, you can. Please contact the lecturer of the module you are interested in and ask for permission. If the lecturer agrees, you can then contact the Coordination Team (coordination-english@uni-bonn.de) for Basis registration.
MA students can register for the colloquium once they have earned at least 60 credit points.
Both Studienleistung and Prüfungsleistung are forms of assessment at the university.
A Studienleistung is usually a pass/fail assessment completed during the semester. It is typically not graded and does not count toward the final grade. Examples include presentations, essays, or group projects. Passing the Studienleistungqualifies you to register for the Prüfungsleistung (final assessment).
The Prüfungsleistung is the final assessment for a module. It is graded and, depending on the module, may take the form of a written exam, oral exam, portfolio, or term paper.
Each module has its own form of final assessment, which may be a written exam, an oral exam, a portfolio, or a term paper. The assessment format for each module can be found in the module catalogue. Below is a brief overview of the different formats:
- Written exam (Prüfung / P): Conducted within a fixed time frame (e.g., 90–120 minutes). It may include multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, or essay-style responses.
- Oral exam (mündliche Prüfung / mP): A real-time discussion lasting approximately 20–30 minutes, during which students answer questions directly from the lecturers.
Portfolio: A collection of assignments and reflections completed throughout the semester. - Term paper: An academic paper on a specific topic related to the module content covered during the semester.
There are two examination phases at the University of Bonn.
The first phase usually takes place immediately after the lecture period ends (e.g., February for the winter semester and July for the summer semester). The second phase generally takes place toward the end of the semester break.
You can find the examination dates here and register for the period that suits you best:
https://www.philfak.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/examination-office/dates-and-deadlines
You can find the registration periods for term papers here:
https://www.philfak.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/examination-office/dates-and-deadlines
Before registering, please make sure to discuss your research topic with the lecturer. You will have twelve weeks to complete and submit your paper after registration.
For more information about the term paper procedure, please see:
Professors and researcher assistants from both the Bonn Applied English Linguistics (BAEL) section and the Linguistics of English and Translation Studies (LETS) section are available to supervise master’s theses.
Please consult the BAEL and LETS websites for more information about staff members and their research interests.
Currently, Hanna Bruns and Don Lowman are the lecturers of trust in our department. They provide confidential and discreet support to students on personal matters that may interfere with their studies, such as mental health concerns or difficulties with time management.
During the summer semester 2026, Hanna offers regular office hours on Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. If this time does not suit you, or if you would prefer to meet via Zoom, please contact her via email at h.bruns@uni-bonn.de. Any changes to the office hour schedule will be announced on her website.
To arrange an appointment with Don Lowman, please contact him via email at dlowman@uni-bonn.de.
Additional counselling services and student support resources provided by the university can be found here:
https://www.iaak.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/resources-for-students/health-issues
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the BAEL-Team (bael@uni-bonn.de) or take a look at the FAQ site of the Examination Office (https://www.philfak.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/frequently-asked-questions-faq?set_language=en)
Contact
Thuy Linh Nguyen B.A.
Student Mentor, subject advisory service
ZEF/ZEI
Genscherallee 3,
53111 Bonn
Office hours
via Zoom (by appointment)
mentor-appliedlinguistics@uni-bonn.de